Man crashed into Calif. national park island, set off major wildfire

[Beringia]

Last edited Mon May 18, 2026, 03:20 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: SFGATE




A sailor stranded in Channel Islands National Park started California’s largest wildfire of the year so far after he set off a flare following a sailboat crash on Santa Rosa Island on Friday, according to a post from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The 67-year-old man was stranded after his sailboat ran onto the rocks of Santa Rosa Island. The man was stranded overnight before rescue swimmers reached him the following morning at about 10:30 a.m. Images from the scene show he had written “SOS” in the charred grasslands.

“The sailor fired emergency flares to signal for help, which inadvertently sparked a wildfire that grew to 1,000 acres by Friday afternoon,” officials from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Ventura said in a post.

Gale-force winds helped a wildfire spread quickly across Santa Rosa Island, destroying two historic structures.

Over 70 firefighting personnel have responded to the blaze that has scorched over 10,000 acres since it started. More firefighters are expected to arrive Monday after the gale-force winds seen over the weekend finally weaken. No injuries have been reported in the fire, but two historic structures on the island, Johnson’s Lee Equipment Shed and Wreck Line Camp Cabin, were both destroyed in the blaze.

Read more: https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/national-park-largest-wildfire-22264388.php

---

minor edits for dupe sentences

[wcmagumba]

1. He crashed his boat and then burns the island down, hmmm, sounds like he needs a different pastime...

This guy needs to be sent to his room or something...

[calimary]

9. Sounds like your typical short-sighted Republican.

At least to me.

[chowder66]

2. Wow. I bet he's both relieved to be saved but mortified about the fire he caused.

[wcmagumba]

6. I doubt that this douche bag is "mortified about the fire", he's mortified that his boat crashed and

he got caught causing the fire...

[calimary]

10. THIS.

[bluedigger]

3. This guy just leveled up his incompetance rating.

Makes you wonder how he acquired the sailboat in the first place. Inheritance?

[twodogsbarking]

4. That is the equal in size to 7,700 football fields 5,000 ballrooms, not counting the bunker and hospital.

[Blues Heron]

5. trump should appoint him head of the coastguard

[Beringia]

8. Yes, a trump kind of guy

[Brother Buzz]

7. The hot dry offshore Santa Ana winds have been exasperating things

I always think of Raymond Chandler when the Santa Ana kicks in

There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge."

—Raymond Chandler, "Red Wind"